RhCo alloyed nanodendrites as an efficient electrocatalyst for boosting electro oxidation of ethylene glycol in alkaline media

Since Pt- and Pd-based catalysts, as the most common anode catalysts, usually suffer from CO poisoning issue during the electro oxidation of ethylene glycol, it is essential to explore more high-efficiency Pt- and Pd-free ethylene glycol oxidation reaction (EGOR) catalysts for better service in direct ethylene glycol fuel cells (DEGFCs). In this work, RhCo alloyed nanodendritic catalysts applied on EGOR in alkaline solution are designed and synthesized by a solvothermal method. The RhCo nanodendrites consist of radially distributed pine tree shaped flakes and rod-like crystals. The mass activity for the as-prepared Rh₃Co₁ nanodendrites during the EGOR reaches up to 3018.7 mA mg⁻¹, which is 2.2-folds higher than that of commercial Pt/C. Moreover, the Rh₃Co₁ nanodendrites exhibit better stability and CO tolerance toward the EGOR than pure Rh nanodendrites and commercial Pt/C. Experimental observations in combination with density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the notably promoted catalytic performances of Rh₃Co₁ nanodendrites are mainly attributed to the distinct nanodendritic morphology and the synergistic effect of Rh and Co. This work provides a valuable insight for developing efficient electrocatalysts for DEGFCs.